Convulsions in Children: Epidemiological, Diagnosis and Therapeutic aspects at Labe Regional Hospital

Diop MM¹*, Bangoura MA², Kolié O^1,2, Doukouré MA¹, Barry A¹ and Diallo IS^2
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences and Techniques, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry, Republic of Guinea
²Institute of Child Nutrition and Health
*Corresponding Author: Diop Mamadou Moustapha, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences and Techniques, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry, Republic of Guinea.

Published: March 31, 2024

DOI: 10.55162/MCMS.06.205

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Abstract  

Introduction: Convulsions are attacks of muscular contracture of cerebral origin, of multiple etiologies.

Objective: To determine the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic profile of convulsions in children.

Method: This was a prospective descriptive study lasting six months involving 137 patients hospitalized in the pediatric department of the Labé regional hospital.

Results: out of a population of 522 patients, we recorded 137 cases of convulsions in the pediatric department, representing a frequency of 26.2%.

The etiologies of seizures in children were dominated by severe malaria with a frequency of 72.2% followed by lower respiratory infections with 24.8% and epilepsy 11.6%.

In our study, antipyretics were the most used with a frequency of 90.5% followed by antimalarials 72.2% and anticonvulsants 37.9%.

Conclusion: convulsions are very common symptoms of multiple etiologies, treatment remains symptomatic and etiological.

The availability of EEG and blood ionogram would facilitate diagnosis and improve management.

Keywords: convulsions; epilepsy; child; Labé

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